What's eating my batteries? (Please help:()
Alright so after two months of being parked at a rv park while my wife completed her first travel nursing assignment we decided to go do some boondocking in one of the many national forests up here in...
Forum Discussion
With 200W of module and a decent MPPT controller, you may not need the converter at all. In storage, the solar will keep everything charged. To make sure you are getting some charge from the solar, wait until you have good sun and measure voltage across the battery terminals. You should be seeing a charge voltage > 13V.
Also, some controllers don't like the battery power being disconnected before removing panel input power. If you don't have a switch or fuse between the module and the controller, throw a blanket over it before disconnecting the battery connections.
When using shore power with the converter operating, check the electrolyte level at comfortable intervals.
BTW, get those battery terminals and connections cleaned up......yesterday ;). I use two cans of spray when servicing batteries. One is an acid neutralizer with soap that changes color in the presence of acid. The other is a can of terminal sealer. Baking soda and grease are alternatives. To save a terminal from oxidizing like your negative terminal, put a penny underneath the battery clamp.
Battery University---good education.
Also, some controllers don't like the battery power being disconnected before removing panel input power. If you don't have a switch or fuse between the module and the controller, throw a blanket over it before disconnecting the battery connections.
When using shore power with the converter operating, check the electrolyte level at comfortable intervals.
BTW, get those battery terminals and connections cleaned up......yesterday ;). I use two cans of spray when servicing batteries. One is an acid neutralizer with soap that changes color in the presence of acid. The other is a can of terminal sealer. Baking soda and grease are alternatives. To save a terminal from oxidizing like your negative terminal, put a penny underneath the battery clamp.
Battery University---good education.
